On Monday, the Burr Ridge Board of Trustees approved a contract for a new radio system for the public works department.
The total cost will be $43,661.90 plus recurring service fees. It will be a Motorola STARCOM Radio system and will link Burr Ridge with other communities.
The system is used throughout Illinois by governments and other entities. According to the state’s website, the system is “interoperable, digital, trunked statewide voice radio communications network.”
This is part of a statewide public/private partnership between Motorola and the state.
Two residents objected to the cost _ claiming a cell system would be cheaper and one trustee, Russell Smith, asked whether it would be wiser to wait and see whether the federal infrastructure bill awaiting passage could pay for the system.
Village administrator Evan Walter said it’s still possible to get reimbursed by the federal government, should the money become available and should the village qualify for communications funding.
“We can always look for construction money in arrears,” Walter said. Plus, he added, he’s afraid prices will go up or the equipment will sell out before winter.
As to the other concerns, Public Works Director David Preissig said he liked the system because it offers the best service. He said a VHF system would require even more equipment and the STARCOM system is something Police Chief John Madden wanted as well.
More Top Picks Best Lab Scales
“We looked at all the various options and having talked with Chief Madden and various others, the STARCOM system gave us the best coverage,” Preissig said.
Trustee Tony Sciappa said he, too, heard that STARCOM is the best solution for communities.
“I haven’t heard any other solution other than this,” he said.
Mayor Gary Grasso asked Preissig whether he thought the village would have to buy new equipment in a few years, and Preissig said they shouldn’t have to do that.
“There’s batteries that need to be replaced, but we don’t believe the radios will be, they have a 10 to 12 year life so we don’t anticipate that for a while,” he said.
Trustee Guy Franzese said he didn’t like the idea of village officials having to rely on a cellphones as a primary means of communication as they could break, so he also supported STARCOM as their radios as stronger.
“If we could have gotten a discount it would have been nice, but I do support it,” Trustee Anita Mital said.
In the end, the board approved the expense unanimously. The contract is to Chicago Communications based in Elmhurst.